Cities did not significantly expand the housing stock; they focused on repairs

Olomouc – The city halls in Olomouc, Prostějov, and Přerov have not significantly expanded their municipal housing stock in the past four years. The cities invested money mainly in the renovation of apartments in their ownership or in preparing the construction of new apartment buildings, which, however, cannot proceed without state support. Residential development in the Olomouc region was mainly managed by private investors. This follows from a survey by ČTK.

For example, Přerov owned 1401 apartments four years ago. "During the electoral term, the city expanded its housing stock by eight housing units in the Pasáž building, which the city purchased as a strategic property in the city center. At the same time, the city focused on renewing the existing housing stock," said Lenka Chalupová, spokesperson for Přerov, to ČTK.

In 2022, there were 127 city apartments in Přerov that were uninhabitable due to unsatisfactory conditions. "Thanks to systematic renovations, it was possible to bring approximately 100 of these apartments back into use and offer them to the citizens of the city. Although the total number of apartments changed only minimally, the number of apartments actually available for living increased significantly," stated Chalupová.

At the beginning of this electoral term, Prostějov owned 1157 apartments and still has the same number. "The city did not focus on new residential construction but prioritized the renewal and modernization of the existing housing stock," said Jana Gáborová, spokesperson for the city hall, to ČTK. Prostějov has prepared, for example, the renovation of apartment buildings at Šárka 9 and 11, with a total of 88 apartments. Investments were also directed towards thermal insulation, roof repairs, and technical improvements of the residential buildings. "These projects are primarily aimed at improving the quality of housing and extending the lifespan of the housing stock," she added.

Olomouc owns 1605 municipal apartments, and their number is lower than at the beginning of the electoral term. "In 2022, approximately 450 municipal apartments were transferred to the ownership of tenants who had previously entered into future purchase agreements and settlement agreements. This was a long-planned action, with no real possibility of keeping these apartments in the city's ownership," said Jan Horejš, spokesperson for the city hall, to ČTK.

The Olomouc city hall is currently renovating a building on Dolní náměstí. Thanks to an investment of 86 million crowns, 21 apartments will be created there. Another project is the construction of a multifunctional apartment building on Janského Street, which will feature 29 rental apartments. Costs, including VAT, amount to 180 million crowns, with part covered by grants and a favorable loan from the State Investment Support Fund. Construction is expected to begin this summer and be completed two years later.

Přerov is preparing to convert the former Strojař hotel into a building with 80 rental municipal apartments. "Project preparation is underway, and the anticipated investment costs are around 450 million crowns," said Chalupová. The Prostějov city hall is considering cooperative housing. "Currently, we are assessing citizen interest in cooperative housing, which could represent one path to more accessible home ownership," said Gáborová.